Repellent fluid-dispensing weapon



Oct. 4, 1966 5, ST N 3276,6532

REPELLENT FLUID-DI SPENS ING WEAPON Filed April 2, 1965- I5 Sheets-Sheet l g wfiniw Oct. 4, 1966 G. A. STANZEL 3,

REPELLENT FLUID-DISPENSING WEAPON Filed April 2, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z //v1//vr0/P 1 7] I I)? 650/905 14.574/VZEL Oct. 4, 1966- r e. A. STANZEL REPELLENT FLUID-DISPENSING WEAPON 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 2, 1965 6150265 4. 5 774WZL 59 W A am United States Patent 3,276,632 REPELLENT FLUID-DISPENSIN G WEAPON George A. Stanzel, 4835 Woodmere Fairway, Scottsdale, Ariz. Filed Apr. 2, 1965, Ser. No. 445,085 6 Claims. (Cl. 222-83.5)

This invention relates to a self-defense weapon of a fluid-dispensing type.

Conventional fluid-dispensing weapons are made for persons unfamiliar with the danger involved in the use and handling of weapons, namely women, and therefore such self-defense weapons must be easy to use and substantially free from accidental discharge. Many such devices are spring or cartridge loaded and subject to forceful discharge upon a movement of an apparently harmless element.

It is also desirable that self-defense weapons be of a light weight and compact so as to be easily concealed but ready for immediate use in case of an emergency.

The general object of this invention is to provide a fluid-dispensing weapon that is compact, light, simple to operate, and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object is to provide a fluid-dispensing weapon having a dispensing needle, wherein a protective cover prevents accidental discharge of the weapon and puncture of an assailants body by the dispensing needle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fluid.

dispensing device wherein a bulb container for the fluid is operatively associated in a fluid sealed relation with a fluid discharge needle positioned in the bulb and operable on depression of one end portion of the bulb to pierce an opposite end portion of the bulb to discharge fluid under pressure from the bulb.

A still further object is to provide a fluid-dispensing weapon capable of repreated actuation for dispensing a stream and/or a spray upon an assailant.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the dispensing device of this invention assembled in a protective housing;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 in FIG. 1 with the protective housing removed;

FIG. 3 is an end view taken along line 33 in FIG. 1, showing the hinged cover in changed positions;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged showing of the front end portion of the dispensing device as illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the rear end portion of a discharge needle which forms part of the dispensing device;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device showing the parts thereof in the actuated position;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the dispensing device;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 showing a modified form of the needle;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged showing of the front end portion of the dispensing device illustrated in FIG. 8 showing the modified form of the needle in the actuated position;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged foreshortened perspective view of the modified needle;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged end view taken along the line 1111 in FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 12-12 in FIG. 9.

The fluid-dispensing assembly 15 as shown in FIG. 2 comprises a needle assembly 16 sealed within a fluid container or bulb 19.

The fluid container 19 is of a syringe-type having a depressible container or bulb section 22 and a stem or discharge section 23 with an axial bore 24. The frustumshaped end of the stem 23 at its inner junction with the container section 22 terminates in a shoulder 26. Located opposite and substantially parallel to the shoulder 26, the container is formed with a flat actuator or depressible portion 27. The fluid container 19 is made of a compressible resilient material such as rubber that tends to rebound to its original form upon release of external pressure applied thereto.

The needle assembly 16 consists of a commercially available hpyodermic needle having an elongated tubular shaft 30 secured at one end to a head member 32, the junction of the shaft with the head member being defined by a shoulder 33. The opposite end of the shaft is formed with a pointed tip 31. For safety reasons to be referred to hereafter, the shoulder 33 has a cross sectional area greater than that of the bore 24 in the stem section 23. An axial bore 34 extended through the head member 32 is open to the hollow needle shaft 30 to form a fluid flow path. As best appears in FIG. 5, the head member 32 is formed with a cylindrical-shaped end section 35 which terminates in a laterally extended circular flange 36. For a purpose to appear later, the cylindrical section is formed with a plurality of transverse passages or holes 37 to provide auxiliary fluid flow channels into bore 34 of the head member.

When the needle assembly 16 is placed within the fluid container 19, the head member 32 is adjacent the actuator portion 27 with the elongated needle shaft 30 supported and axially slid able within the bore 24 in stem 23 which bore has a diameter larger than the diameter of the needle shaft. The needle tip 31 projects outwardly of the stem end 38.

A repellent fluid Y such as ether, ammonia, or the like is used as a deterrent against an assailant and is normally of a highly obnoxious odor. The fluid may cause harmful injury if the needle tip 31 penetrates the skin so as to allow the fluid to reach the blood stream.

To shield the needle tip and seal the fluid container 19, there is provided an elongated protective cap 39 of tubular cross section having a rigid metal outer sleeve 40 enclosing and bonded to a plastic or rubber line 41. The liner has a bore 42 closed intermediate its ends by a transversely extended pierceable diaphragm 44. One end of the liner 41 is integrally formed with a transversely extended disc 48 having a central orifice 52 whereby to form an intermediate chamber 29 between the diaphragm 44 and disc 48. The diameter of bore 42 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of stem section 23 of the fluid container 19 so as to provide a snug fit on assembly.

In fabrication the fluid container 19 is usually made by a molding process to initially form a pair of identical half portions which are then bonded together. Prior to the bonding operation, the needle assembly 16 is positioned within one of the half portions. The fluid Y is then admitted through the pointed end 31 of needle shaft 30 and/or through the space between the shaft and bore 24 of the stem. 23 into the fluid container 19, after which the protective cap 39 is positioned around and bonded to stem 23 to seal the fluid within the container.

An important feature of this assembly operation is the location of protective cap 39 axially on the stem 23 so that the disc 48 is positioned outwardly of the needle tip 31. As shown in FIG. 2, this result is obtained .by securing cap 39 to the stem 23- while maintaining between the disc 48 and needle tip 31 a distance B which is greater than the distance C between the shoulder 26 of stem 23 and needle shoulder 33. The needle tip 31, in a fully extended position, is thus positively maintained within the protective cap 39 and inwardly of the disc 48 a distance indicated by the letter A.

The device as above described is operable to discharge the fluid Y from the fluid container 19. The operator grasps the stem section 23 of the fluid container between the fore and middle fingers with the thumb located against actuator portion 27. On depression of the actuator portion as shown in FIG. 6, the flange 36 is engaged and needle assembly 16 moved therewith in an axial direction toward the diaphragm 44. On a continued depression of the actuator portion 27, the needle tip 31 contacts and pierces the diaphragm 44 whereby fluid Y enters the intermediate chamber 29 under pressure for discharge from the device through the orifice 52. By virtue of the fluid pressure within the intermediate chamber 29, the orifice 52 functions to give direction to the fluid discharged therethrough. The needle shaft 30 is movable through the diaphragm 44 until engagement is made between the shoulders 33 and 26.

To obtain a second fluid discharge, there is provided a spiral compression spring 56 of barrel-shape mounted about the needle shaft 30 and arranged in compression between the needle head 32 and the inner end of stem 23. On release of the actuator portion 27, therefore, the spring 56 moves the needel assembly 16 rearwardly concurrently with the admission of atmospheric air therethrough to expand the bulb section 19. The pierced opening in the resilent diaphragm 44 closes on retraction of the needle shaft 30 to prevent any excessive leakage of fluid Y. The device is thereupon reactuated as described above.

During movement of the needle assembly 16, the actuator portion 27 may contact the flange 36 in a flush engagement so as to seal the open end of bore 34. Should this flush engagement take place, the holes or passages 37 in the head member 32 always permit the fluid Y to flow from the container section 22 and into bore 34 for discharge from. the needle tip 31.

Since the liner 41 and needle assembly 16 may be accidentally bent so that needle shaft 30 assumes a curved shape, operation of the device under this condition could result in the pointed tip 31 of needle shaft 31) being extended through the side walls of liner 41 whereby to cause possible serious injury to the operator or to an assailant. An occurrence of this kind is prevented by the rigid metal sleeve 40.

To prevent accidental bending of the needle shaft 30 or accidental depression of actuator portion 27, the weapon device may be provided with a rigid protective housing 45. As shown in FIG. 6, the protective housing substantially conforms in profile to the fluid container and includes an elongated shank section 46 for receiving the stem 23 and the protective cap 39 and a tunnel or cup-shaped section 47 for receiving the container section 22. One-half of the funnel section forms a cover 49 which is hinged at 50 to the remaining funnel half 51. A clasp or detent 53 on the cover 49 frictionally coacts with a similar clasp 54 on the funnel half 51 to secure the cover in a closed position. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the cover 49' at the end thereof adjacent the shank section 46, is bent inwardly to form a lip 55 which is abuttingly engageable with an inner end portion 57 of the protective cap 39.

To assemble the weapon device within the protective housing 45, the cover 49 is initially in its open position as shown 11 FIG. 3. The protective cap 39 and stem 23 are then inserted within and moved axially of the shank section 46 until container section 22 is within the funnel half 51. The cover 49 is then closed (FIG. 1) and secured by clasps 53 and 54. In the closing of the cover 49, the lip 55 is located adjacent the inner end portion 57 of cap 39 to lock the weapon device against axial movement in one direction outwardly of the protective housing 45. Movement in the other direction is prevented by contact between container section 22 and funnel section 47.

In operation of the weapon device when enclosed within the protective housing 45, the funnel section 47 is held between the fore and middle fingers with the thumb placed through a cut-out Sfietion 59 in the cover 49 for positioning E against the actuator portion 27. Upon depression of the actuator portion, the needle assembly moves axially to pierce the diaphragm 44 and release the fluid within container 22 as previously described in the operation of the weapon device without the protective housing 45.

A modified form 16a of the needle assembly 16 is shown in FIGS. 8-12. Like numerals therefore are used to indicate identical structure previously described. As best shown in FIG. 10, the needle assembly 16a comprises an elongated I-shaped steel shaft 61 integrally formed at one end thereof with a cutting assembly 63, and having an actuator disc 64 secured to its other end. The cutting assembly 63 is of a generally arrowhead-shape having a pointed tip 67 from which cutting edges 69 extend rearward and outwardly in a plane common to the midsection or web 71 of the shaft 61. The cutting edges 69 terminate at points 72 located outwardly from the upper and lower flanges 75 and 76, respectively, of the shaft 61. Additionally, and as clearly appears in FIG. 11, the assembly 63 includes a pair of spreading or cam sections 76, which from the point 67 have edges 77 which are reversely inclined and extend rearwardly to merge with diagonally opposite side edges of the flanges 75 and 76. The flanges 75 and 76 are also formed with inclined leading edges 7 8 rearwardly of the cutting edges 69 for a purpose to appear later.

When the needle assembly 16a is placed with in fluid container 19 (FIG. 8), the actuator disc 64 is located adjacent the actuator portion 27 with the elongated shaft 61 supported and axially slidable within a bore 24 in the stem 23 so that the cutting assembly 63 projects outwardly of the stem end 38. Bore 24 has a diameter larger than the distance between diagonally opposite outer edges of the upper and lower flanges 75 and 76, respectively, of the shaft 61. A spiral compression spring 56 is mounted about the shaft 61 between the inner end of stem 23 and the actuator disc 64.

A transversely extended stop pin 66 is carried on shaft 61 at a position such that the distance B between the disc 48 and pointed tip 67 is greater than the distance C between the shoulder 26 and pin 66. Since the pin 66 limits the movement of the shaft 61 inwardly of the protective cap 39, the tip 67 is always maintained inwardly of the disc 48 a distance at least equal to that indicated at A (FIG. 9).

In the operation of the weapon device with the needle assembly 16a, depression of the bulb actuator portion 27 moves the shaft 61 within the cap 39 to provide for the piercing of the diaphragm 44 by the cutting assembly 63. The slit cut in the diaphragm 44 by the cutting edges 65 is initially opened or spread apart by the cam sections 70 and then by the leading edges 78 to form an opening 79 (FIG. 12) having a generally rectangular-shaped center portion 81. The shaft 61 is moved through the opening 79 thus formed until the stop pin 66 engages the shoulder 26 at the inner end of the stem 23. The fluid Y from the container section 22 flows to each side of the midsection 71 of the shaft 61 into the intermediate chamber 29 (FIG. 9) for discharge through the orifice 52. The spring 56 functions to withdraw the assembly 16a within the bulb section 22 to reset the device for a second fluid discharge.

In some limited uses of the weapon device such as in warfare, it may be desirable that the pointed tip of the needle assembly, on actuation of the device, extend outwardly of the protective cap 39 to penetrate the skin of an assailant concurrently with the discharge of fluid therefrom. This result can be readily obtained by varying the length of the protective cap 39 relative to the axial movement of the needle assembly.

While there have been shown, described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the preferred embodiment it is to be understood that various omissions, substitutions, changes in form, and details of the invention illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirt of the invention. It is intended to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A fluid-dispensing device comprising:

(a) a compressible fluid container means having a stem portion connected to a bulb portion,

(b) said stem portion having an axial bore and a shoulder formed at the inner junction of said stem and bulb portions,

(c) a needle means having an elongated needle shaft and a head member of greater diameter than said bore connected to one end of said elongated needle shaft, said needle shaft having a pointed tip at the opposite end thereof,

(d) said head member enclosed by and axially slidable in said bulb portion with said needle shaft slidable within said bore whereby axial movement of said head member in one direction is limited by abutment with said stem shoulder,

(e) a tubular tip cover having a transverse pierceable diaphragrm located intermediate the ends thereof,

(f) said tip cover having one end section positioned about and sealed to said stem portion with said diaphragm located outwardly from said pointed tip,

(g) the other end section of said tip cover terminates in a transverse disc having a central orifice, said disc at a distance from said pointed tip greater than said axial movement of said head member in said one direction whereby said pointed tip is maintained within the axial confines of said tip cover, and

(h) a compression spring mounted about said needle shaft to bias the needle means in an opposite direction.

2. A fluid-dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 including:

(a) a rigid protective housing means for enclosing fluid container means,

(b) said housing means having a hinged cover, and

(c) a locking portion on said cover engageable with said tip cover to limit axial movement of said container means in one direction relative to said housing means.

3. A fluid-dispensing device as claimedin claim 1 in which:

(a) said disc and said diaphragm define a pressure chamber, whereby the fluid admitted to said chamber through the pierceable diaphragm is discharged under pressure through said orifice.

4. A fluid-dispensing device comprising:

(a) an axially compressible fluid container means having a depressible portion and a discharge portion,

said

(b) a bore through said discharge portion,

(0) a diaphragm means sealing said bore, and

(d) needle means sealed and slidable within said container means having an elongated shaft with a pointed end section adjacent said diaphragm means, said needle means engageable and movable by axial compression of said fluid container means in one direction whereby said end section pierces said diaphragm means for establishing communication with the exterior of said container means,

(e) said shaft of I-shape in transverse cross section with said end section having laterally extended cutting blades.

S. A fluid-dispensing device as claimed in claim 4 in which:

(a) said cutting blades having outwardly extended cam means to hold said diaphragm means in an open position after being pierced by said needle means.

6. A fluid-dispensing device comprising:

(a) an axially compressible fluid container means having a depressible portion and a discharge portion,

('b) a bore through said discharge portion,

(0) a diaphragm means sealing said bore, and

(d) needle means sealed and slidable within said container means having an elongated shaft with a pointed end section adjacent said diaphragm means, said needle means engageable and movable by axial compression of said fluid container means in one direction whereby said end section pierces said diaphragm means for establishing communication with the exterior of said container means,

(e) said end section having laterally extended cutting blades with outwardly extended cam means to hold said diaphragm means in an open position after being pierced by said needle means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 603,045 4/1898 Palmer 222 X 807,905 12/1905 Blair 128-232 2,520,068 8/1950 Seiler 22286 X 2,667,986 2/ 1954 Perelson 22280 X 2,733,836 2/1956 Switzer 22282 2,911,972 11/1959 Elinger 128216 3,094,988 6/1963 Dunmire 128--216 3,119,528 1/1964 Dunning 22280 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner, W L ER SOBl E m 

6. A FLUID-DISPENSING DEVICE COMPRISING: (A) AN AXIALLY COMPRESSIBLE FLUID CONTAINER MEANS HAVING A DEPRESSIBLE PORTION AND A DISCHARGE PORTION, (B) A BORE THROUGH SAID DISCHARGE PORTION, (C) A DIAPHRAGM MEANS SEALING SAID BORE, AND (D) NEEDLE MEANS SEALED AND SLIDABLE WITHIN SAID CONTAINER MEANS HAVING AN ELONGATED SHAFT WITH A POINTED END SECTION ADJACENT SAID DIAPHRAGM MEANS, SAID NEEDLE MEANS ENGAGEABLE AND MOVABLE BY AXIAL COMPRESSION OF SAID FLUID CONTAINER MEANS IN ONE DIRECTION WHEREBY SAID END SECTION PIERCES SAID DIAPHRAGM MEANS FOR ESTABLISHING COMMUNICATION WITH THE EXTERIOR OF SAID CONTAINER MEANS, 